Should the NYC Marathon Go On? - VIDEO

"They're still going door to door in Staten Island trying to find out if there are dead bodies in the houses, and you're holding a marathon?...Now you want the streets to be littered with half-full water bottles from guys who are running in a marathon who are pouring it on their heads and throwing half-used bottles in the street and in Jersey they don't have any water! The governor's saying they don't have any clean water. Well come over here, they're throwing bottles in the street during the marathon you can pick it up. How much worse can it get?"

Mayor Michael Bloomberg saw none of this as insurmountable and defended the decision to hold the race, insisting resources wouldn't be diverted from storm victims. He noted Thursday that electricity was expected to be restored to all of Manhattan by race day, freeing up "up an enormous number of police."

At this point, it's a lose-lose situation. If they were going to postpone, they should've done it 3 days ago. Too late now to postpone it I think.

Posted by: Josh | Nov 2, 2012 1:08:29 PM

It should be postponed to the Spring. To hold it now is like saying to Staten Islanders "Let them eat cake."

Posted by: JeffNYC | Nov 2, 2012 1:12:31 PM

As someone who works for a (now) struggling small business in downtown - we NEED the marathon to happen. Gotta have some sort of activity to spur some sort of marginal business.

Posted by: David in NYC | Nov 2, 2012 1:12:49 PM

Of course it should have been at least postponed. The many resources needed to run the marathon are more needed to tackle real world issues folks in metro NY are currently dealing with.

Posted by: ratbastard | Nov 2, 2012 1:14:06 PM

Several friends of mine from NYC have said the same thing as David, above. The marathon brings in an enormous amount of money and business, something desperately needed right now to get the city back on its feet.

There is something to be said for getting back to normal ASAP instead of letting a bunker mentality take over.

I'm ambivalent about the NYC Marathon generally, and in particular about staging it right now, but how would all of the thousdands of runners re-book airline tickets and hotel reservations for next week, let alone sometime next Spring?

People are upset and emotional right now and they're using this as an outlet for their frustrations. It's a total lose-lose proposition.

Posted by: Runnuh | Nov 2, 2012 1:22:52 PM

Unbelievable to me the NYC is continuing with the marathon when basic services are still lacking for so many. It takes something like 1,000 officers to police this thing. How can anyone seriously claim that resources won't be diverted?

Posted by: Butch | Nov 2, 2012 1:23:57 PM

Life should continue on as normal as long as it is capable of doing so without diverting resources. Resources not being diverted? Then hold it; the many businesses which rely on customers who aren't going to be there otherwise will certainly be boosted.

Posted by: LiamB | Nov 2, 2012 1:33:16 PM

Yes, the marathon should go on, if it can be run properly (in both senses). And I live in the West Village – no power since Monday at 8 pm.

Didn't they have a massive increase in the entry fee this year so that the NYRR could pay a huge fee to the city to cover overtime for police officers? If that's the case, then the runners have paid for something that they wouldn't otherwise receive. I don't like what the NYC Marathon has become (a tourism generator), but I'm not sure there's a fair way out of this for anybody. And Francesca is a total fat-ass blowhard.

Posted by: Paid in Advance | Nov 2, 2012 1:39:23 PM

I couldn't run if I were being chased by zombies. But, NYC has another reputation to preserve: SURVIVE and THRIVE.
This is the same town that was supposed to be ruined by 9/11.
If I had to guess, my family and friends in all the boroughs will be out for the welcome diversion. And to say to the world "We will never give up, never give in. Welcome athletes!"
Run with my full support!

Posted by: Wavin' Dave | Nov 2, 2012 1:45:53 PM

NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING WILL STOP JOGGERS. I'M SURE THEY MUST HAVE FOUND SOME JOGGERS BODIES UNDERNEATH ALL THOSE TREES IN CENTRAL PARK THAT WERE TOPPLED BY THE STORM.

Posted by: THE QUEEN | Nov 2, 2012 1:57:00 PM

Look if we need to prioritize beyond life and security....how about making sure THE ELECTION happens on Tuesday in NY, NJ CT not a marathon.

Posted by: MCnNYC | Nov 2, 2012 2:05:00 PM

As an avid marathoner, just finished Marine Corps in the pre-Sandy weather in DC, the participants can't just "reschedule" the marathon. It takes months and months of preparation, with long 20 mile plus runs and shorter taper runs scheduled to get the body ready. Many participants in the NYC Marathon have been training since May and have been raising thousands of dollars for charities as well. I'm not saying that it can't be rescheduled, til spring, but you can't postpone it a month or so. AND the NYC Marathon is donating ONE MILLION dollars to recovery efforts. I think worse scenarios could happen.

Posted by: Scott | Nov 2, 2012 2:17:56 PM

Run the F'in race. Plans have been made, money has been spent and the city needs the $$$.
I find it fascinasting that NYC and NJ wants the world to drop everything, show up and wipe their nose/powder their butts, when they could give 2 shiites if Seattle, Portland, LA, SanFran, etc., took a direct hit from a huricane.

Posted by: KevInPDX | Nov 2, 2012 2:31:25 PM

Run the F'in race. Plans have been made, money has been spent and the city needs the $$$.
I find it fascinasting that NYC and NJ wants the world to drop everything, show up and wipe their nose/powder their butts, when they could give 2 shiites if Seattle, Portland, LA, SanFran, etc., took a direct hit from a huricane.

Posted by: KevInPDX | Nov 2, 2012 2:31:26 PM

Oh come on. This aint Katrina. Things get wet and people will be without power for a week or two after a hurricane. Anyone who's ever lived on the Gulf Coast knows this.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself New York.

Posted by: David | Nov 2, 2012 2:56:13 PM

I think running it as scheduled could have a positive emotional impact on a lot of City dwellers who have had a really rough week. If hizzoner thinks the city can pull it off...go for it.

Posted by: acorlando | Nov 2, 2012 2:57:26 PM

I see both sides - it seems like an unnecessary distraction when there is much work to be done, but...it also brings in a lot of $$$$$ which would also be really useful, right?
Anyway I don't really know, I don't even live there.

Posted by: Lucas H | Nov 2, 2012 3:28:01 PM

donating a million dollars for recovery efforts? if that's true, there is some justification. if they are talking about money into local business, not so much.

Posted by: bandanajack | Nov 2, 2012 3:35:17 PM

Well, it ended up being canceled, and I agree with the decision. I can see the side of it bringing money into the city, but at the same time, many people are staying in hotels because they haven't had power or water, and in some cases, they were being asked to leave for marathon reservations. I don't think that NYC or NJ thinks they are worse off than other hurricane victims, as some have suggested, but it is still a difficult time. If it was even 2 weeks from now, I wouldn't think it was a problem, but the city is limping along with their resources cut in half. Have you seen the lines for subways and buses? Now you are going to add an extra 40,000 people to the mix? Sounds kind of stupid to me...